Cover for drainage tiles



N. W. KAHN Dec. 6, 1966 COVER FOR DRAINAGE TILES Filed March 30, 1964INVENTOR. /1 E'/L 1M KA/V/V United States Patent 3,289,840 COVER FORDRAINAGE TILES Neil W. Kahn, New Hampton, Iowa Filed Mar. 30, 1964, Ser.No. 355,965 8 Claims. (Cl. 210-131) This invention relates to a coverfor drainage tiles and in particular to a gate assembly for keeping outrodents or the like.

Farm drainage tiles provide an ideal nesting place for certain rodents;however, as may be expected, the construction materials used by therodent to build a nest, clog up the tile and obstruct the movement ofdrainage water therethrough.

Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a cover for theoutlet end of drainage tiles which will prevent rodents or the like fromentering the tile but yet allow discharge of drainage water therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a gate assembly fordrainage tiles which hangs normally by gravity in a closed position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a gate assemblyfor drainage tiles which may be locked in a closed position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a gate assemblyfor drainage tiles which is easily adjusted to vary the size of theoutlet opening.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a gate assemblyfor drainage tiles which may completely close the end of the drainagetile to prevent flood waters from backing up into the tile.

Another object of this invention is to provide a gate assembly fordrainage tiles or the like which is readily secured to and removed fromthe end of the drainage tile.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cover for drainagetiles which is simple in design, economical to manufacture and refinedin appearance.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, andcombination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objectscontemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth,specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 of the drawings is an end elevation view of the gate assembly ofthis invention with an imperforate disc plate shown in phantom as it isbeing mounted on the gate assembly;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the gate assembly of FIG. 1 includingthe disc plate shown in phantom;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the gate assembly mounted on the endof a drainage tile with the gate unit in its completely closed position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the gate assembly mounted onthe end of a drainage tile but with the gate unit reversed and therebypartially opening the end of the tile;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the impe-rforate disc plate and itsclamping element; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective end view of the gate assembly mounted on thedischarge end of a drainage tile.

Although clay file are used primarily for drainage tiles, the last fewfeet of the outlet end are commonly metallic cylindrical units such asthe cylindrical metal pipe or tube 10 in FIG. 6. The gate assembly ofthis invention is referred to generally in FIG. 6 by the referencenumeral 12.

An adjustable cylindrical strap-type clamp 14 is provided which has apair of end portions 16 and 18 connected by a bolt member 20 as shown inFIG. 1 of the drawings. Also shown in FIG. 1, is a pin 22 extending icehorizontally outwardly of the strap clamp 14. The pin 22 is providedwith an enlarged outer end portion 24 to retain thereon a locking plateelement 26, the function of which will be hereinafter described ingreater detail. At the top side of the strap clamp 14, a hinge 28 isformed by a plate element bent :back upon itself with its ends welded tothe clamp 14. A pin 30 is thus held between the two folded portions 'ofthe hinge 28. The pin 30 pivotally connects a gate unit 32' to the clamp14.

The gate unit 32 includes an inverted channel-shaped arm member 34having ends 36 and 38 with holes 40 and 42 formed therein respectively.An arcuate channelshaped frame member 44 semicircular in shape is Weldedintermediate its ends to the lower flange edges of the channel-shapedmember 34. The integral side wall flanges 46 and 47 extend inward-1yalong the entire length of the channel-shaped frame 44 as best seen inFIG. 2. At each end of the frame 44, a pin 48 is fixedly secured and isprovided with a keyhole 50. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of spacedapart finger members 52 are fixedly secured at their upper ends to thebase portion of the channel-shaped frame member 44 and extend inparallel relationship downwardly therefrom. As seen in FIG. 2, thefinger members 52 are spaced at their upper ends from the channel sidewall flanges 46 and 47. Also it is seen that the finger members 52extend at a small angle to the frame 44 and thus are at a slight angleto a normal plane extending transversely through the channelshaped armmember 34. By comparing FIGS. 3 and 4 it is seen that when the gate unit32 is pivotally connected to the hinge 28 by the arm end 38, the fingermembers 52 extend inwardly towards the clamp 14 and the peripheral endedge of the tile 10. Similarly, When the gate unit 32 is pivoted by thearm end 36 (FIG. 4) to the hinge 28, the finger members 52 extendoutwardly from the clamp 14 and the peripheral end edge of the tile 19.Changing the gate unit 32 from the position of FIG. 3 to position ofFIG. 4 is easily accomplished by simply removing the pin 34) from thehinge 28 and placing it in the appropriate hole in either end 36 or 38of the arm 34. A cotter pin 56 (FIG. 1) is provided to prevent anaccidental removal of the pin 30.

Thus it is seen that when the finger members 52 extend outwardly fromthe discharge end of the tile 10, as shown in FIG. 4, a space 58 isdefined therebetween which permits a greater discharge of water anddebris from the tile 10.

Although the gate unit 32 normally hangs in a closed position as shownin both FIGS. 3 and 4 by the forces of gravity, it may be heldpositively in its closed position by the locking plate 26 which engagesat its free end either of the pins 48 on the frame channel member 44 andis held in position by a cotter pin 59.

As also seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 it is noted that the gate unit 32 islimited in its downward pivotal movement by the lower edges of the arm34 side wall flanges bearing against the top of the tile 10.

When it is desired to prevent flood waters or the like from entering thetile 10, a disc plate 60 which is imperforate may be mounted on the gateunit 32. A channelshaped clamp plate 62 is adjustably secured by a bolt64 to the center of the plate 60. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, two of thefinger members 52 are adapted to extend between the plate 60 and theclamping channel plate 62 for holding the plate 60 in place. Also theadjacent side wall flange 46 or 47 of the frame 44 will serve as a guideand limiting means for the plate 60 to center it in a position where itwill be co-extensive with the area covered by the finger members 52across the outlet end of the tile 10.

Thus it is seen that this invention provides a very versatile cover fordrainage tiles which is simple in construction and adjustable for use asneeded.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my coverfor drainage tiles without departing from the real spirit and purpose ofmy invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modifiedforms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may bereasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. A gate assembly for drainage tiles, comprising,

a cylindrical clamp member adapted to embrace a cylindrical tile,

an arm pivotally connected to said clamp member,

a gate unit having a frame member connected to said arm, at a pointspaced from said pivotal connection to said clamp member, and aplurality of spaced apart finger members connected to said frame member,

said gate unit adapted to pivot to an open position at an angle to theend plane of a tile, and to a closed position adjacent the end of atile, said fingers having a length sufficient to extend substantiallyacross the open end of a tile, and

said fingers being disposed in a plane at an angle to a normaltransverse plane to said arm when said gate unit is in said closedposition, said arm having pivotal means on the opposite side of saidfinger members from the point of said first mentioned pivotal connectionto said clamp member, whereby said gate unit may be reversed andpivotally connected to said clamp member by said pivotal means therebypositioning said finger members at an angle in the opposite directionfrom said normal plane.

2. A gate assembly for drainage tiles,

a clamp means adapted to be secured to a tile,-

a gate unit having a frame member, an arm connected between its ends tothe top of said frame member, a plurality of spaced apart finger membersconnected to said frame member, pivotal means provided on either end ofsaid arm and adapted to be connected to said clamp member, said fingermembers disposed at an angle to a perpendicular plane extending throughthe plane of said arm whereby said fingers when in a substantiallyvertical plane extend towards said clamp member when said arm ispivotally connected by one of said pivot means to said clamp means andextend away from said clamp member when said other pivot means isconnected to said clamp means, and

means for limiting the pivotal movement of said gate unit towards saidclamp member and adapted to maintain a predetermined space between thelower end of said finger members and the bottom edge of a tile.

3. The gate assembly of claim 2 and wherein a lock :lement extendsbetween said frame member and said :lamp means to prevent pivotalmovement of said gate Jnit away from said clamp means.

4. The gate assembly of claim 3 and wherein an imaerforate disc plate isprovided with a detachable clampng means adapted to engage at least oneof said finger nembers, the area of said disc plate being substantiallyco- :xtensive with the area of said gate unit when the disc Jlate issecured to the finger of said gate unit.

5. The gate assembly of claim 3 wherein the means for imiting pivotalmovement of said gate unit is the arm vhich is adapted to bear againstthe top side of a tile on vhich said clamp means may be secured.

6. A gate assembly for drainage tiles, comprising,

a cylindrical clamp member adapted to embrace a cylindrical tile,

an arm pivotally connected to said clamp member,

a gate unit having a frame member connected to said arm, at a pointspaced from said pivotal connection to said clamp member, and aplurality of spaced apart finger members connected to said frame memher,

said gate unit adapted to pivot to an open position at an angle to theend plane of a tile, and to a closed position adjacent the end of atile, said fingers having a length sufficient to extend substantiallyacross the open end of a tile, and

wherein said frame of said gate unit is arcuate in shape and has two endportions extending away from said arm on opposite sides thereof, andsaid frame has an inwardly extending flange portion which is spaced fromsaid finger members, a disc plate is provided having detachable clampingmeans for engaging one of said finger members, said disc plate isadapted to be positioned between said finger members and said flangewith said flange serving as a guide and a stop means to limit movementof said disc member relative to said finger members.

7. A gate assembly for drainage tiles, comprising,

a cylindrical clamp member'adapted to embrace a cylindrical tile,

an arm pivotally connected to said clamp member,

a gate unit having a frame member connected to said arm, at a pointspaced from said pivotal connection to said clamp member, and aplurality of spaced apart finger members connected to said frame member,

said gate unit adapted to pivot to an open position at an angle to theend plane of a tile, and to a closed position adjacent the end of atile, said fingers having a length sufiicient to extend substantiallyacross the open end of a tile, and

wherein a lock means is provided which is connected to said gate unit ata point remotely located from said arm and is connected to said clampmember to maintain said gate unit in said closed position.

8. A gate assembly for drainage tiles, comprising,

a cylindrical clamp member adapted to embrace a cylindrical tile,

anarm pivotally connected to said clamp member,

a gate unit having a frame member connected to said arm, at a pointspaced from said pivotal connection to said clamp member, and aplurality of spaced apart finger members connected to said frame memher,

said gate unit adapted to pivot to an open position at an angle to theend plane of a tile, and to a closed position adjacent the end of atile, said fingers having a length sufiicient to extend substantiallyacross the open end of a tile, and

a disc plate and a clamp means for detachably securing the disc plate tosaid finger members of the frame of said gate unit and said disc platebeing adapted to close the end opening of a tile.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 891,012 6/1908Shepard 210-131 928,481 7/1909 Tenold 210131 929,514 7/1909 Tenold2l0131 REUBEN FRIEDMAN, Primary Examiner.

F. A. SPEAR, Assistant Examiner.

1. A GATE ASSEMBLY FOR DRAINAGE TILES, COMPRISING, A CYLINDRICAL CLAMPMEMBER ADAPTED TO EMBRACE A CYLINDRICAL TILE, AN ARM PIVOTALLY CONNECTEDTO SAID CLAMP MEMBER, A GATE UNIT HAVING A FRAME MEMBER CONNECTED TOSAID ARM, AT A POINT SPACED FROM SAID PIVOTAL CONNECTION TO SAID CLAMPMEMBER, AND A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART FINGER MEMBERS CONNECTED TO SAIDFRAME MEMBER, SAID GATE UNIT ADAPTED TO PIVOT TO AN OPEN POSITION AT ANANGLE TO THE END PLANE OF A TILE, AND TO A CLOSED POSITION ADJACENT THEEND OF A TILE, SAID FINGERS HAVING A LENGTH SUFFICIENT TO EXTENDSUBSTANTIALLY ACROSS THE OPEN END OF A TILE, AND SAID FINGERS BEINGDISPOSED IN A PLANE AT AN ANGLE TO A NORMAL TRANSVERSE PLANE TO SAID ARMWHEN SAID GATE UNIT IS IN SAID POSITION, SAID ARM HAVING PIVOTAL MEANSON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID FINGER MEMBERS FROM THE POINT OF SAID FIRSTMENTIONED PIVOTAL CONNECTION TO SAID CLAMP MEMBER, WHEREBY SAID GATEUNIT MAY BE REVERSED AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID CLAMP MEMBER BYSAID PIVOTAL MEANS THEREBY POSITIONING SAID FINGER MEMBERS AT AN ANGLEIN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM SAID NORMAL PLANE.